Nest and Nurture,LLC

10/16/2025

A groundbreaking 2025 study published in Science Advances has revealed that while women experience a decline in the number of eggs as they age, the quality of those eggs at the DNA level remains surprisingly stable. In contrast, men’s s***m accumulates genetic mutations over time, making older fathers more likely to pass on DNA errors that can contribute to developmental and neurological conditions in their children.

Researchers found that these s***m mutations increase steadily with age, particularly after 40, while eggs showed minimal DNA damage accumulation. This challenges decades of assumptions about female fertility and aging — and flips the traditional “biological clock” narrative on its head.

The implications are significant: men’s age can influence conception success, pregnancy outcomes, and long-term child health just as much as women’s.

In essence, time affects both sexes — just in very different ways.

10/14/2025

10/02/2025

Expecting a baby? Nervous? A doula can help with that....

I will support you through whatever decisions you make concerning the birth of your baby!

Book a consultation....calendar is filling up fast!

Send a message to learn more

10/02/2025

Researchers admit that, "it is not clear whether it is better for women with big babies to have their labour induced or to wait for labour to begin naturally."

And we know ultrasound weight guesses are often wrong. Studies show a 15% margin of error either way.

But what else can we learn from the research?

And, given these facts, why ARE many women told they need induction for a 'suspected big baby'?

I researched and wrote about these issues in my most recent book, “In Your Own Time: how western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop.”

I also discuss the research relating to older and larger women, to longer pregnancies, and to the now-amended suggestion by the NICE guideline writers that Black, Brown, Asian and mixed-race women should be offered early induction of labour.

Nowadays, most women will be offered induction, or find that it is raised as a topic of conversation, and many come under pressure to accept this.

Whether you want to agree to induction or not is up to you.

But if you’d like information to help you decide, I have two books and a website full of resources that can help.

You can find out about big babies (and lots more) in “In Your Own Time”, see https://www.sarawickham.com/time

For more on induction generally, see https://www.sarawickham/iol for resources.

10/02/2025

Know anyone who needs someone to clean house for them? I have openings on Wednesday mornings and Thursday mornings.
I charge $20 and hour and I have references if you are interested.

Send a message to learn more

09/23/2025

Today’s White House event on autism was filled with dangerous claims and misleading information that sends a confusing message to parents and expecting parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals.

We know autism is complex, highly variable and increasingly linked to genetics. Individualized plans, often involving a combination of developmental, behavioral, educational and social-relational strategies, can help improve outcomes that are meaningful to individuals and families. We also need and welcome additional investments in federally funded research to better support families of autistic children.

Families who have questions about their child’s medications, autism care plans or other health care should consult with their pediatrician or health care provider.
https://bit.ly/4gBDNEc

09/10/2025

5 THINGS THAT I SWEAR DO NOT MATTER IN POSTPARTUM
(so maybe you can stop stressing about them?)
1. your baby's sleep - how much your baby sleeps, where your baby sleeps, when your baby sleeps. I know this may sound crazy to you but - it doesn't matter. It's truly the least important thing. I KNOW YOU THINK I'M INSANE FOR SAYING THAT. But our culture is so freakishly obsessed with baby sleep and getting the baby to sleep. Yes sure fine it's important, but it's not something you can fight or control or force (and also stressing about it doesn't make them sleep any better just saying!!!!!)
2. bouncing back - ugh hard pass. like why does the world hate women so much that bouncing back is even a thing we have to think about?! our bodies were literally just portals between two worlds so like..."bouncing back" can bounce the F off?????
3. whatever someone else is doing with their baby / whatever someone else says their baby is doing - first of all everyone is a liar, okay? social media? all fake!!! Your cousin is a liar, your mom was basically borderline negligent (the parenting rules in the 80s and early 90s were wild!!!!) so you can ignore her (we luv u Boomer Moms!!!) and that annoying girl from highschool? Mute! If these are real life friends, just smile and nod and say "mmmhmmm" and then go watch the Baby Race episode of Bluey 109 times.
4. the future - I used to be the Queen of Future Stress. First day of my sons life? I'm already stressing about the day I have to stop using the swaddle. Baby turned 4 days old? Let's start stressing about the 4 month sleep regression. Oh there's some developmental leap being projected six months from now? Cancel that vacation!! Future stress over something you can't control = robbing yourself of being in the present moment. It sucks. Don't do it.
5. your pre-kid life - so normal to mourn your pre-baby life!! And it's 100% okay to do. But just remember - you are currently in the beginning of the life that pre-baby you dreamed of. So when you feel yourself mourning old you, let those feelings come, then go look at your baby's tiny hand.
Do you stress about any of these things/does this resonate with you?? See less

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09/08/2025

Breastfeeding at six months boosts children’s IQ and academic skills into adolescence

Breastfeeding at six months was linked to higher IQ, better reading and math skills, and improved conversational abilities in children, according to the ALSPAC study. The findings, based on 42 significant outcomes, highlight long-term cognitive advantages but stop short of proving causality.

09/07/2025

A few years back, I was in conversation with a hospital-based midwife colleague about a shared frustration.

We were both so tired of hearing that women who had been told they had gestational diabetes (or GD, which is a debatable label in itself) were also being told they needed induction.

"The problem is," she said, "that some obstetricians tell women they're at high risk because they have GD, and that induction is the solution, but there's no evidence for that. But the lack of studies mean the issues are complex and there's no easy place I can point women to, so they can read more."

I knew just what she meant.

I had written about GD in my Inducing Labour book, but our conversation made me realise that I didn't have a blog post on this topic.

I wrote one that week.

Since I wrote it, my blog post on Induction for gestational diabetes: what's the evidence? has become one of my most popular.

And today I have checked and updated it, to ensure that it stays relevant and useful for the thousands of women, families, midwives and birth workers who visit it every year.

You can read it at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-for-gestational-diabetes/

I hope you'll find it useful.

08/24/2025

When compared to the support of only a labour and delivery nurse or midwife, and/or an intimate partner, and/or someone within your social circle, the presence of a doula (along with these lovely folks) INCREASES your chances of avoiding unnecessary and unwanted medical interventions (but doesn't interfere with your getting the necessary or wanted ones).

A doula's presence at your birth DECREASES your chances of having a birth experience that feels bad to you. Babies have better outcomes too! Why? Because doulas bring in the comfort know-how, the trust in your sovereignty, and the ability to meet you skillfully in your vulnerability while upholding your strength.

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." - Dr. John H. Kennell

Still only 6% of birthing families hire doula support. Until birth happens, it is hard to understand how much the experience (not just the clinical outcome) matters. Doula support can make a world of difference.

Https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

08/23/2025

While it is awful watching a friend suffer with depression, especially if she seems to be pushing you away, there are ways to show your support. Here are some suggestions from mums who have been there. Consider which steps you can take, start small and please don’t take it personally if your effor...